Links for names on the Normandy War Memorial to copies of
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Certificates.

The names of the fallen on War Memorials generate
a great deal of enquiries from most researchers of Family History. It was
with pleasure, therefore, that in 1996 we accepted an offer from Peter
Southwell of Ash to undertake a piece of unique research into the names
on the Normandy War Memorial as part of his Open University course on Family
and Local History for he had lived the first 28 years of his life here
in Normandy

His completed work was deposited with the Society in October 2000 containing
the history of all but 12 names. Keith Lamont, also of Ash and one of our
members took over the baton of research successfully reducing the list
of untraced histories. Recently, the list has been reduced by locating
another of the fallen (for whom this commemorative scroll is a tribute),
thanks to information received from a corresponding member of the Society
now resident in Canada but who when a young girl lived here in Normandy.

Debt of Honour Scroll

Click on photo to see an
enlargement

According to a report in the Surrey Advertiser of the
22nd of December 1923

The anniversary service to commemorate the unveiling of the
War Memorial was held on Sunday last. Ex-servicemen to the number of 86
organised by Mr W Elliott and led by Colonel Marsh assembled at Willey
Green at 2.15pm and marched to the memorial accompanied by the Guildford
Military Band. A short service was conducted by the Reverend F N Pickford,
after which buglers played The Last Post and Reveille.
The assembly then proceeded to St. Marks Church for a separate service
of remembrance and a fine sermon preached by the Reverend W. Peverly Dudd,
Wesleyan Chaplain to the Forces at Aldershot. The offertory being divided
among the war charities. The 1st Normandy Scouts and Guides paraded at
the memorial under their respective officers.

Lease of land for War Memorial

This document was for the lease of land on
which the Normandy War Memorial stands. The Indenture, dated 24 May 1921,
was made between His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War
Department (who was then Winston Churchill) and Ash Parish
Council. It is believed the document was signed by Winston Churchill. In
1876 the War Department acquired the Manor of Cleygate, (approximately
1,200 acres), which included Normandy Common and this small area of land,
and in so doing had presumably become "Lord of the Manor of Cleygate".

In 1945 Ash Parish Council was re-named Ash and Normandy Parish Council
and in 1953 Normandy Common, including the War Memorial land was conveyed
by the War Department to the Ash and Normandy Parish Council. The lease
was, therefore, rescinded.

Normandy Common is owned now by Normandy Parish Council formed in 1955
out of the former Ash and Normandy Parish.